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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Oga
男鹿市
Spend a half‑day to a full day: visit Namahage Museum (¥500), Oga Aquarium (¥1,000), then walk the Shinzan Trail (free).
Oga is a small peninsula town in Akita Prefecture. Its main draws are the Namahage Museum, the GAO aquarium and the 4‑hour Shinzan hiking trail. A single day covers the highlights; overnight only if you camp on the beach.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 男鹿市
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (snow, limited transport)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥3,000–5,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Namahage Museum entry | ¥500 adults / ¥250 kids |
| Oga Aquarium GAO entry | ¥1,000 adults / ¥400 kids |
| Campground car site | ¥6,000 per night |
| Campground tent site | ¥2,000 per night |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AXT · Akita Airport
- JR Oga line from Akita Station, about 1 h 15 min
Typical fares
- JR Oga line Akita ↔ Oga
- about ¥1,500 one‑way (check)
- Campground car site per night
- ¥6,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR Oga line connects Akita and Oga (≈1 h 15 min). A car is most convenient; local buses are infrequent.
See and do
Known for
- Namahage Museum
- Oga Aquarium GAO
- Shinzan Trail
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Akita city | JR Oga line to Akita Station, about 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h round trip |
Sleep
- Miyazawa Kaigan Auto Campground
- Beachside campsite; car sites ¥6,000, tent sites ¥2,000. Open year‑round, but winter may be snowy.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the restroom? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Buses run only a few times a day; check timetables.
- Shinzan Trail is 4 h one‑way; start early and bring water.
- Campground fees are higher than typical; book in advance in summer.
Oga is low‑risk; main concerns are traffic on narrow mountain roads and cold winter weather.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Oga yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Namahage Museum
- Oga Aquarium GAO
- Shinzan Trail
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Oganavi official guide: oganavi.com/en/
- Wikivoyage: Oga, revision 5294709 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5294709
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/oga). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.